28 Players Suspended Following Drew Central / Hampton Football Fight
September 6th, 2018 by ML Sports
Late Wednesday update – The AAA has upheld the official’s ejections of 11 players from Drew Central and 17 players from Hampton.
Each ejected player must sit out the next 4 full consecutive quarters (1 full game) of varsity competition.
Friday night’s game has been ruled “no contest”, since a full half is required for the game to count.
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Wednesday Morning Update -We have gained more information about the arrests that occurred Friday night. Anthony Jackson, age 43, and his wife, Tomika Johnson, of Harrell, were charged with resisting arrest, refusal to submit to arrest, battery 2nd degree, injuring a police officer and fire code enforcement violations, public intoxication, drinking in public, disorderly conduct, fighting or violent behavior, for their actions with law-enforcement and others on the Drew Central football field.
While trying to get Johnson off of the football field and away from the players, he became combative and assaulted and Arkansas State Trooper, who was trying to clear the field. The tooper is currently on crutches, and missing work this week, due to a knee injury, which resulted from the assault by Mr. Johnson.
As deputies were going to release Ms. Johnson from custody, she said “I’m going with my husband.” PTs told her that he was going to jail and she was being released, when she pushed by them to be with her husband. She was taken to the county jail, with him. But was released on her own recognizance, later. Mr. Johnson bonded out of jail, Tuesday.
The top photo shows Drew Central and Hampton football fans leaving the Drew Central’s Stadium in Monticello, after an on-field second quarter fight between the players caused the game to be called.
At 7:55, Friday evening, officials called an end to the Hampton at Drew Central high school football game, due fighting on the field.
During the game’s second quarter, Drew Central had scored a touchdown. Minutes later, there was a fumble by Hampton near the 50 yard line. A referee declared it was still Hampton’s ball, but after a referee conference, possession was awarded to Drew Central.
Further interviews with sources at the game indicate that Drew Central had a flag thrown against them, for a late hit on the next play. (It was not clarified whether the late hit was unavoidable or if it appeared intentional, to the referees.)
A penalty flag was thrown for the late hit, and the yardage was going to be marked off, when contact was made against a Pirate, by a Hampton player, apparently in retaliation for the late hit.
Hampton coaches entered the field, in an effort to separate the players, but the events continued to get out of hand.
Players and fans from both sides headed towards the field. When instructed to return to their seats, police reports indicate DC spectators complied, while some Hampton fans did not.
It was also reported by others, that all 25 members of the Hampton football team entered the field.
It should be noted that no official decision as to the potential forfeiture of the game will be decided until film is reviewed by officials. We have confirmed the case has already been turned over to the Arkansas Athletic Association for any disciplinary action that may be taken.
There were approximately 15 low enforcement officers present, before the game began, on a special security project.
As far as an official ruling, the game came to an end when all of the Hampton bench players entered the field of play, causing their ejection. This, along with the ejection of those on the field fighting, prevented them from having enough players to continue.
In spite of the skirmish, no players were injured.
Updates on the outcome of the forfeiture issue and any related suspensions will be posted on MonticelloLive.com, next week.
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Refs were told about the happenings on the field from opposing team but did nothing to stop it. Sad to see these actions, but when referees don’t do their jobs to stop dirty play on the field….eventually those being wronged will react. Hated to see this happen…. here or anywhere. The momentum had shifted to DC with their scoring and fumble recovery on the 50. Then things got really bad. Luckily no one was injured from either team.
One eyewitness described that it was a player from the Hampton team that grabbed one of the Drew Central players by the back of the collar and slammed him to the ground long after a play was over. Then a fight commenced between players of the opposing teams as coaches began working on pulling them apart. After the players were pulled apart, the parents of the Hampton player came onto the field and as a cop tried to get them to go back to the sidelines one of them, according to another eyewitness hit the cop, knocking him to the ground. Other cops came onto the field and apprehended the offenders. It is speculatedd that the cop that was knocked to the ground tasered one of his assailants. They were handcuffed and led off field. After that the police escorted the Hampton team and fans off the field warning the Drew Central team and fans to stay put until Hampton was cleared out in order to prevent another fight.
Hampton’s whole team went on the field. Then their adults rushed in and started fighting. They even fought the police.
Anyone who left the bench as well as those involved in the fight, should have been ejected, and I would imagine the game was canceled because Hampton no longer had enough players to continue play.